Reading Across the Globe represents a global approach to collaborative inference. In this project students and teachers in classrooms from around the world read the same text (various picture books based on a theme of global awareness) and collaborate to discuss individual observations, inferences, and beliefs. Guided by their teachers, students are given the opportunity to explore the important role that context plays in the development of their worldview and thus in their beliefs about others. It is our hope that this project represents an important, though cursory step in breaking down the ignorance that reinforces cultural misunderstanding and leads to prejudice and intolerance. Schools grades 3-5 in Shanghai China, Prague Czech Republic, Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada, Salem, Massachusetts, USA, New York, USA, and Geneva, IL, USA are currently participating in the project.
What contributes to differences around the world and how?
How does our judgment of differences contribute to misunderstanding?
How can knowing the context of cultural difference help us understand each other better?
*Context could include these or other aspects: geography, religion, custom, economy, government, family structure
Students, your assignment is to work with your group to answer the following questions:
Direct questions addressed after classes in the project have read the same text:
1. What differences do you observe? Pick one to investigate. 2. What do you infer from the difference? 3. Research the context of the difference within that culture. 4. How has that changed your understanding of your observation? 5. Complete a project demonstrating your findings
Project choices: video, audio, pictures, slideshow, cartoons, etc.
Here are some Web 2.0 tools that groups might want to use:Web 2.0 Tools
Welcome to Reading Across the Globe.
A global approach to collaborative inference
Reading Across the Globe represents a global approach to collaborative inference. In this project students and teachers in classrooms from around the world read the same text (various picture books based on a theme of global awareness) and collaborate to discuss individual observations, inferences, and beliefs. Guided by their teachers, students are given the opportunity to explore the important role that context plays in the development of their worldview and thus in their beliefs about others. It is our hope that this project represents an important, though cursory step in breaking down the ignorance that reinforces cultural misunderstanding and leads to prejudice and intolerance. Schools grades 3-5 in Shanghai China, Prague Czech Republic, Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada, Salem, Massachusetts, USA, New York, USA, and Geneva, IL, USA are currently participating in the project.
Who are we? Find out here
Essential Questions Which Will Be Answered:
*Context could include these or other aspects: geography, religion, custom, economy, government, family structure
Students, your assignment is to work with your group to answer the following questions:
Direct questions addressed after classes in the project have read the same text:
1. What differences do you observe? Pick one to investigate.
2. What do you infer from the difference?
3. Research the context of the difference within that culture.
4. How has that changed your understanding of your observation?
5. Complete a project demonstrating your findings
Project choices: video, audio, pictures, slideshow, cartoons, etc.
Here are some Web 2.0 tools that groups might want to use:Web 2.0 Tools